Squeeze me

Cider almost didn't happen this year. Jann had a fire at her place shortly before so she wasn't up for hosting. And our house was a mess, not able to host many family members either. But we opted to press at our place and Jess and Charlie and our friends Jenni and Art came for a visit. B's sister and hubby also came so we had a crap-load of dogs here. Apple's were ripe early this year so we got a lot of juice out of them.

It was Jess's first time at the Methow cider event in maybe a dozen years and it was the only time Art and Jenni participated outside of Portland. 

 

Circa 1945

2025 was the 80th year of life for Nancy, B's mother. Leah planned a celebration at her house for summer, when the most people could attend. The weather was great, the food was great, the fun was fun. Everyone who had a dog brought one, making it more than a little chaotic. 

We all went to a glass studio to blow ornaments that Nancy promptly declared her "right" to hang on her tree for Christmas (for this year). Everyone enjoyed that activity. 

 

We introduced Matthew to our family's cuthroat gin rummy and learned he had never played rummy before! He did well  but was overwhelmed by the intensity, I think. 

Heading for the Border

Oh boy. While we'd been discussing getting a doggy-companion for Luna, we had not worked out any details. So when we stumbled onto a breathtakingly adorable Border Collie puppy at the Methow Rodeo we were unprepared. So with diminished defenses, we brought him home. We named him Loki and Luna was aghast for many weeks. Over time she warmed to him and he began to terrorize our house. 

 

Washington Holidays

We knew when the winter holidays arrived that we would not be ready to host numerous guests. So we traveled to Wenatchee to spend Christmas with B's mother. His Aunt Lana came on Christmas and Bug and her boyfriend Mattthew came in the Christmas/New Years window. On Thanksgiving we traveled to Leah's house in Tacoma for Thanksgiving. 

We had a nice pack of snow on the ground for the California boy and enjoyed touring with the city kids to some of our more rustic country life. 

 

Hawaii x2

As we have many winters in the past we traveled to Hawaii for our combined "birthday trip." It was lovely staying with Jan and visiting with Travis, Denese and Feather. Denese's disease has progressed enough that she didn't know me, although there was a moment when I wondered. Feather was still reeling from the separation of his family and we tried to bolster him up. 

Then in fall Sarah and I opted to fly to Oahu for a mom/daughter vacation. It was  a good trip overall but riddled with complications, such as a rental car snafu (and hit and run with same), a hurricane brush, a jellyfish sting and a room in a sketchy neighborhood. But we survived and enjoyed our one-on-one time. 

 

Up, Up and Away

When our first winter peaked in February we rather spontaneously decided to take a hot air balloon ride out of Winthrop. It was a first for us both and a great treat. It was cold but the sun was out and high in the air beneath the gas device the temperature was pleasant. The views were stunning! We landed in a farmers field after missing the landing zone of the airport. 

 

A little slip, a little slide

In early spring we traveled to Salt Lake City to visit Lizzie and Rose and so B could ski. It was a great trip, lovely weather and a wonderful opportunity to hang out with the kids. 
 

Settling in

Moving into our new house -- and anticipating a disrupting remodel -- We decorated with a hodgepodge of furnishings and decor.  This seascape was painted by my mother, Jeannette and was unpacked early on. So up on the wall it went. Meanwhile we do without plenty of belongings in boxes and use boxes as tables.

Living in what is probably the narrowest gap in the valley is a mixed blessing. The sun disappearing behind the granite ridge next to the house is great in summer -- just right when heat is highest but too soon in winter. 

We left our old chicken coop in Portland, planning to build one when we arrived. We bought a shed kit, thinking it would go faster but we (I) had so many alterations for it that it took way too long. B constructed it on a platform our first winter, then we bought a flatbed trailer to move into the lower pasture. It got a customized paint job along the way!

The arrowroot blooms were prolific our first spring!